Vision of the Measuring Line

Then I raised my eyes and looked, and behold, (A)a man with a measuring line in his hand. So I said, “Where are you going?”

And he said to me, (B)“To measure Jerusalem, to see what is its width and what is its length.”

And there was the angel who talked with me, going out; and another angel was coming out to meet him, who said to him, “Run, speak to this young man, saying: (C)‘Jerusalem shall be inhabited as towns without walls, because of the multitude of men and livestock in it. For I,’ says the Lord, ‘will be (D)a wall of fire all around her, (E)and I will be the glory in her midst.’ ”

Future Joy of Zion and Many Nations

“Up, up! Flee (F)from the land of the north,” says the Lord; “for I have (G)spread you abroad like the four winds of heaven,” says the Lord. “Up, Zion! (H)Escape, you who dwell with the daughter of Babylon.”

For thus says the Lord of hosts: “He sent Me after glory, to the nations which plunder you; for he who (I)touches you touches the [a]apple of His eye. For surely I will (J)shake My hand against them, and they shall become [b]spoil for their servants. Then (K)you will know that the Lord of hosts has sent Me.

10 (L)“Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion! For behold, I am coming and I (M)will dwell in your midst,” says the Lord. 11 (N)“Many nations shall be joined to the Lord (O)in that day, and they shall become (P)My people. And I will dwell in your midst. Then (Q)you will know that the Lord of hosts has sent Me to you. 12 And the Lord will (R)take possession of Judah as His inheritance in the Holy Land, and will again choose Jerusalem. 13 (S)Be silent, all flesh, before the Lord, for He is aroused (T)from His holy habitation!”

Vision of the High Priest

Then he showed me (U)Joshua the high priest standing before the Angel of the Lord, and (V)Satan[c] standing at his right hand to oppose him. And the Lord said to Satan, (W)“The Lord rebuke you, Satan! The Lord who (X)has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! (Y)Is this not a brand plucked from the fire?”

Now Joshua was clothed with (Z)filthy garments, and was standing before the Angel.

Then He answered and spoke to those who stood before Him, saying, “Take away the filthy garments from him.” And to him He said, “See, I have removed your iniquity from you, (AA)and I will clothe you with rich robes.”

And I said, “Let them put a clean (AB)turban on his head.”

So they put a clean turban on his head, and they put the clothes on him. And the Angel of the Lord stood by.

The Coming Branch

Then the Angel of the Lord admonished Joshua, saying, “Thus says the Lord of hosts:

‘If you will walk in My ways,
And if you will (AC)keep My command,
Then you shall also (AD)judge My house,
And likewise have charge of My courts;
I will give you places to walk
Among these who (AE)stand here.

‘Hear, O Joshua, the high priest,
You and your companions who sit before you,
For they are (AF)a[d] wondrous sign;
For behold, I am bringing forth (AG)My Servant the (AH)BRANCH.
For behold, the stone
That I have laid before Joshua:
(AI)Upon the stone are (AJ)seven eyes.
Behold, I will engrave its inscription,’
Says the Lord of hosts,
‘And (AK)I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day.
10 (AL)In that day,’ says the Lord of hosts,
‘Everyone will invite his neighbor
(AM)Under his vine and under his fig tree.’ ”

Footnotes

  1. Zechariah 2:8 Lit. pupil
  2. Zechariah 2:9 booty or plunder
  3. Zechariah 3:1 Lit. the Adversary
  4. Zechariah 3:8 Lit. men of a sign or wonder

A Man With a Measuring Line

[a]Then I looked up, and there before me was a man with a measuring line in his hand. I asked, “Where are you going?”

He answered me, “To measure Jerusalem, to find out how wide and how long it is.”(A)

While the angel who was speaking to me was leaving, another angel came to meet him and said to him: “Run, tell that young man, ‘Jerusalem will be a city without walls(B) because of the great number(C) of people and animals in it.(D) And I myself will be a wall(E) of fire(F) around it,’ declares the Lord, ‘and I will be its glory(G) within.’(H)

“Come! Come! Flee from the land of the north,” declares the Lord, “for I have scattered(I) you to the four winds of heaven,”(J) declares the Lord.(K)

“Come, Zion! Escape,(L) you who live in Daughter Babylon!”(M) For this is what the Lord Almighty says: “After the Glorious One has sent me against the nations that have plundered you—for whoever touches you touches the apple of his eye(N) I will surely raise my hand against them so that their slaves will plunder them.[b](O) Then you will know that the Lord Almighty has sent me.(P)

10 “Shout(Q) and be glad, Daughter Zion.(R) For I am coming,(S) and I will live among you,”(T) declares the Lord.(U) 11 “Many nations will be joined with the Lord in that day and will become my people.(V) I will live among you and you will know that the Lord Almighty has sent me to you.(W) 12 The Lord will inherit(X) Judah(Y) as his portion in the holy land and will again choose(Z) Jerusalem. 13 Be still(AA) before the Lord, all mankind, because he has roused himself from his holy dwelling.(AB)

Clean Garments for the High Priest

Then he showed me Joshua(AC) the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan[c](AD) standing at his right side to accuse him. The Lord said to Satan, “The Lord rebuke you,(AE) Satan! The Lord, who has chosen(AF) Jerusalem, rebuke you! Is not this man a burning stick(AG) snatched from the fire?”(AH)

Now Joshua was dressed in filthy clothes as he stood before the angel. The angel said to those who were standing before him, “Take off his filthy clothes.”

Then he said to Joshua, “See, I have taken away your sin,(AI) and I will put fine garments(AJ) on you.”

Then I said, “Put a clean turban(AK) on his head.” So they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him, while the angel of the Lord stood by.

The angel of the Lord gave this charge to Joshua: “This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘If you will walk in obedience to me and keep my requirements,(AL) then you will govern my house(AM) and have charge(AN) of my courts, and I will give you a place among these standing here.(AO)

“‘Listen, High Priest(AP) Joshua, you and your associates seated before you, who are men symbolic(AQ) of things to come: I am going to bring my servant, the Branch.(AR) See, the stone I have set in front of Joshua!(AS) There are seven eyes[d](AT) on that one stone,(AU) and I will engrave an inscription on it,’ says the Lord Almighty, ‘and I will remove the sin(AV) of this land in a single day.

10 “‘In that day each of you will invite your neighbor to sit(AW) under your vine and fig tree,(AX)’ declares the Lord Almighty.”

Footnotes

  1. Zechariah 2:1 In Hebrew texts 2:1-13 is numbered 2:5-17.
  2. Zechariah 2:9 Or says after … eye: “I … plunder them.”
  3. Zechariah 3:1 Hebrew satan means adversary.
  4. Zechariah 3:9 Or facets